Erratic power supply despite promises of stability

IMNA
February 28, 2006

Supply of electricity continues to be terribly erratic despite the Pegu town authorities promising stable power supply last month, after collecting about a 1000 Kyat from each family using government supply.

“They promised to supply power one day and stop it one day. But electricity is not supplied on the day it was promised,” said Nai Vi, a resident in Pegu.

Authorities had collected money from residents and promised to increase power supply to the people. But supply is not stable. It is supplied for just for one and-a-half hours per day, three days a week.

Earlier the same situation prevailed and nothing has changed despite the promise. The authorities also do not supply power at the exact time and sometimes cut off the power after a few minutes.

According to the residents authorities collected money last month for increasing power supply. Most of residents gave the money. But some shop owners refused the authorities demand. They felt they would not get enough power.

Most shops and car repairing workshops used their own generators for running their establishments. Some temples also have to rely on the temple generator, said an abbot monk.

“I have to spend about 3,000 Kyat per day to run the generator for my student monks,” the abbot added.

Rangoon residents claim that they also suffer power cuts. One day they receive power and another day it is cut.

“Most of the sub towns in Rangoon receive power three times in two days. Some town quarters receive power from 6:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., again from 11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.,” Ma Khin a Rangoon resident said.

The electricity authorities resort to a rotational system, where at any point of time some quarters get the power and the others do not.

According to residents most small towns in Rangoon receive power in this manner. Priority in power supply is given to Pyinmanar, the new capital.

With small towns in rural areas receiving less and less power, some residents bribe the authorities for more power. But they receive nothing in return.